A new dedicated software engineering center, which develops new technologies and software support for Kinze’s leading-edge planter, grain cart and autonomy-driven product lines, has just recently opened in North Liberty, Iowa.
The 2800-sq ft. facility, which opened in early December, currently houses five software engineers, with plans to increase staff to 20 in the immediate future. According to vice president Susanne Veatch, Kinze’s primary goal is to use the space to create software solutions that enable farmers to improve their productivity in the field.
“Planters and farm equipment are becoming increasingly high tech. Therefore, just as we developed core competencies in the past through innovative mechanical solutions, we continue to develop core competencies today and tomorrow through new software-driven technologies. We’re looking to apply them, wherever it makes sense,” said Veatch.
Veatch said the new North Liberty facility and an expanding team of software engineers would enable the company to accomplish this. Kinze has several large projects already in the works and is aggressively seeking software engineering talent in the immediate months ahead. The rest of the engineering staff will continue to be based at Kinze global headquarters in Williamsburg.
“The North Liberty site is a perfect location for several reasons,” said Veatch. “It’s easily commutable from the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City metro areas. Both have large populations of highly skilled labor. We also like the close proximity to the University of Iowa for recruiting college graduates and to our own corporate campus, here in Williamsburg.”To view photos from the Kinze Ribbon Cutting Event, click here.